Method and machine for forming metal



April 23, 1940. w. c. TUCKER METHOD AND MACHINE FOR FORMING METAL Filed May l, 1939 .3,Sh`eets-Sheet l vApril 23, 1940.

w. c. TUCKER l 2,197,906

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR FORMING METAL Filed May l, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 TTU/NEXS April 23, 1940. W, Q TUCKER 2,197,906

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR FORMING METAL ZJ gg/2, r

Patented Apr. 23,1940

aie'neoeV METHOD AND MACHINE FOR FOR1VIING` Y v' William C. Tucker, Kenmore, `N. assignorto Buffalo Forge Company, yluffalo, N. Y.

Application Mayl, 1935),"SerialNix271,100 y 1s claims. (c1. 153-54) a This invention relates to improvements in the forming of metal in such a manner that the same is wrapped-about a roll.

One of the objects' of this invention is to provide an improved method and machine for forming metal by wrapping the same about a roll. A further object is to provide an improved method and machine by means of which rings or shells may be formed from straight metal and in which all of the metal is bent into substantially uniform curvaturawthus avoiding flat end portions frequently found on work heretofore produced by other methods and machines. Another object is to provide a method and amachine of this kind in accordance -with-which the work is formed about a roll partly while the roll is stationary or non-rotating', and partly while the roll is rotating.

It is also an'object of this invention to pro- `vide a machin-e of this kind by means of which the preliminary forming of the metal about a roll, and the nal forming of the metal are carried on automatically in succession without requiring any attention on lthe part of the operator.` Another object of this invention is to provide a machine of this kind which will be accurate and rapid in operation and safe for an operatorto` use. Another Objectis to provide a machine of Vthis kind from which the work can be easily stripped.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of this kind in which the roll about which the material is to be wrapped andthe several wrapping rolls are normally spaced from each other, and in which the several rolls are moved into work engaging relation to each other in a novel manner. A further object is to provide a machine` of this kind in which the rolll about which vthe work is to be wrappedytogether with a source'of power for driving the same `are yieldingly mounted in such amanner that this roll may be moved into operative relation to another roll.

Other objects of this invention will appear from the following description and claims.

In the accompanying drawings: l

Fig. l is a fragmentary sideview of a metal forming machine embodying this invention and. by means of which my improved method may be carried out.

Fig. 2 isa front View thereof.l

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of a control valve by means of which the machine is started and stopped.

Fig, 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional elevation, on 'an enlarged scale, ofthe middle portion of the machine. y

Fig. 5 is aview similar to that shown in Fig. 4,

but showing the partsl in differentpositions'.'

Fig. Gis a fragmentary sectional View of` the rolls'showing the work thereon completed) Fig. 7 is a fragmentary transversel sectional' view of the middleportionof the machine as seen from'thefront ofthe machine.

' Fig. '8 is a fragmentary sectional elevation thereof, approximately on line 8 8; Fig. 2.-

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional plan view thereof, approximately on line 9 9, Fig.l 4.

Fig. l0 is a fragmentary sectional "elevation showingy th'e'mechanism' for stripping thework from the machine.

I have shown in thev drawings one' embodiment of this invention, and it will kbe understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to the particular embodiment shown, since it is obvious thatthe invention may be embodied in machines oi different forms. In the particular construction shown, the frame or housing of the machine includes two upright plates or .frame members I5 and I6 connected at their lower ends by .means of atransverse'rame member l1, and at theirl upper* ends by means of a top plate I8, thus forming a box-like frame withinwhich most of the parts ofthe machine 'are arranged. The various rolls" of the-machine are all mounted betweenthe two upright plates l5 and I6, the

frame l5 having a relatively large opening I9` formed. therein through which the workmay be removed from the machine. l

` 20 represents onev of the rolls ofmy metal forming machine,.this roll being the one about which the metal isformed or wrapped during the operation ofthe machine. This roll must, of course, have a periphery approximating the inside face of the work to be produced, and consequently, this roll is removably mounted onthe machine so that it l. can readily be vreplaced by another lroll.l In ithe construction `illustrati-fd, the roll 20 is secured on a shaft 2l which is driven by any suitable means. The roll 20 is preferably keyed' to the'shaft 2l and is removably secured thereon by means of a screw 22 engaging in the end of the shaft 2l and cooperating with a disk 23, which engages the end vof the removable roll 20. `The particular machine illustrated is provided with rolls adapted to wrap a strip or plate X of metal about the roll 20 toy form the same`into cylindrical `shape Y as shown in Fig. 6, but it will beobvious that metal of any illustrated in the accompanying drawings a motor 24 which constitutes a source of power, and which preferably includes suitable reducing gears (not shown), and which is coupled to the driven shaft 2I of the machine. The motor or other driving means,` together with the roll 29 and shaft 2l are movably mounted on the machine so that the roll can be moved toward and from the work. This may be accomplished in any desired manner and in the construction illustrated, the roll, shaft and motor are mounted on a bracket 25 which is slidably mounted on the frame member I6 of the machine in any suitable or desired manner. In the construction illustrated the bracket 25 has suitable upright bearings formed therein through which shafts or columns 26 extend, two such columns being shown in the construction illustrated which are secured in spaced relation to the side plate I6 of the frame of the machine, for example, by means of upper and lower fixed brackets 21 and 28 which are bolted to the side plate I 6 of the machine and extendoutwardly therefrom and to which the columns or guide members 26 are secured. The bracket 25 is also provided with a bearing 29- for the shaft 2|, the bearing being of such proportions as to form the sole bearing vsupport for the roll 20.

The bracket 25 carrying the roll 2U, its shaft 2I and the driving means therefor, such for example as the motor 24 is resiliently mounted so as to be yieldingly held in ar position out of engagement with the work X, which in the construction illustrated is the upper position, the yielding means permitting the bracket 25 to slide downwardly lengthwise of the guide columns 26. Any suitable means for accomplishing this purpose may be employed, and in the construction illustrated, I have for this purpose provided a cylinder 3i) containing a piston connected With a piston rod 31|, which extends through an opening in an extension 32 formed on the lower guide bracket 23. The upper end of the piston rod 3| bears against the slidable bracket 25 and when fluid pressure, such for example as compressed air, is admitted through a supply'pipe 34 to the cylinder 36 below the piston therein, the piston rod 3l will be urged upwardly so as to hold the bracket 25 and the parts mounted thereon in their upper position. This position may be varied, depending upon the size of the roll 20 mounted on the shaft 2|. Any suitable means for limiting the upward movement of the bracket 25 may ;be employed, and in the construction illustrated for this purpose, I have provided on the upper bracket 21 an adjusting screw 35, extending through a threaded hole in the bracket 21 and having a lock nut 35 for locking the adjusting screw 35 in the desired position. The lower end of the adjusting screw engages the slidable bracket 25 to limit the upward movement thereof. By means of this construction, it will be obvious that the slidable bracket 25 and the parts mounted thereon will be yieldingly moved into and held in their upper position determined' by the adjusting screw 35, and when downward pressure is exerted on the roll or on the slidable bracket 25, this roll and bracket are moved downwardly against the fluid pressure in the cylinder 3B, fluid in the cylinder 3U being forced out of the same back through the supply pipe 34 into astorage container (not shown) for the fluid undery pressure. Other means may, of course, be provided for yieldingly holding the roll 20 in an upper position'and for permitting the same to move downwardly against the yielding force.

4i) represents a forming roll which, in the particular construction shown, isarranged below the roll 20. The roll Il is an idler roll whichis suitably journalled on the frame of themachine and arranged to cooperate with the movable roll 2U. The metal member X to be formed is positioned in the machine by placing the same upon the roll MI, and any suitable means may be provided as additional supports for the metal member. In the construction shown by way of example, the machine is provided with a suitable work support including a pair of arms [15 secured to the frame plates I E and I5 and extending out wardly toward the front of the 'machine On these arms is journalled a plurality of work supporting rollers 46' upon which the work may be placed for positioning the same in operative relation to the roll 20 and theforming roll im. Any suitable gauge may be provided to assist the operator in correctly positioning the work, and by way of example, there is shownV in the drawing a gauge bar 4'7- suitably supported above the work support and provided thereon with an adjustable iinger "i8 including a sleeve 49 which'rnay be locked by means of a set screw in any desired position on the gauge bar 51. This finger is so positioned on the rod that the lower end thereof indicates the position which the rear end of the work X should occupy when being placed .into the machine, see particularly Figs. l and 4. When in this position, the work X should project somewhat beyond the rolls 20 and 40, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 4.

When the work X has been positioned between I the rolls 29 and 40, suitable means are actuated to move the roll 2i) toward the roll l0 so that the work X will be gripped between the rolls, it being understood that the rolls 20 and 4D are not rotating at this time. Any suitable or desired means for moving thev roll 2&3 toward the roll 40 may be provided, and by way of example, I have shown in Figs. 1 and 2 a cylinder 50 arranged at the top of the machine, for example, on the top plate I8 thereof. This cylinder contains a piston 5I ksecured to a piston rod 52 which extends downwardly out ofthe cylinder 50 and through the top plate I8 toward the roll 2t. On the lower end of the piston rod 52 are `mounted one or more forming rolls, two such rolls 55 and 55 being shown in the construction illustrated. These two rolls may be secured to the lower end of the piston rod 52 in any suitable or desired manner. In the construction shown, the lower end of the piston rod 52 is provided with a cross member or bar 51 rigidly secured thereto and bearing brackets 58 are suitably journalled on the ends of the cross member 51, the bearing brackets each pivotally supportingthe upper forming rolls 55 and 55, so that these rolls are free to rotate independently of eachother on the bearing brackets 58 and the bearing brackets in turn may swing or oscillate about the cross member 51. When fluid pressure is admitted to the upper end of the cylinder 50, the piston 5I therein will be forced downwardly so that the forming rolls 55 and 56 will contact with the roll 20 and because of the pressure in the upper portion of the cylinder 50, these rolls 55 and 5S will move the roll 20 downwardly toward the roll 4U,

the downward movement of the roll being accompanied by the downward movement of the-'slidable bracket 25 and the parts mounted thereon. When uid pressure in the upper part of the cylinder 58 is reduced and pressure is admitted into the lower part of the cylinder, the piston 5| will move in the reverse direction, thus moving the forming rolls 55 and 56.into an upper position above' the roll 20, as shown in Figs. l to 4 and 1,

and'holding them in this position until pressure is reduced in the lower part of the cylinder 5S and fluid under pressure is admitted to the upper part of the cylinder.

Means are preferably provided for limiting the upward movement of the forming rolls 55 and 56 and by way of example, I have shown for this purpose a pair of stop screws 60 which extend downwardly through the top plate |8 of the frame of the machine, and which engage in correspondingly threaded holes in the top frame platef|8 or in a transverse frame member 6|. The lower ends of the stop screws 68 shown engage the pivoted bearing brackets 58 when the rolls 55 and 56 are in their upper position. 62

` represents lock nuts which lock the stop screws 60 in any positions in which they may be set to limit the upward movement of the forming rolls 55 and 56.

I prefer to eifect the preliminary forming of the work about the roll 28 while the rolls are stationary or non-rotating, and this is preferably accomplished by bending the portion of the work X extending lrearwardly beyond the rolls 28 and 48 upwardly about a portion of the roll 2U. This preliminary forming of the work may be accomplished in any suitable manner. I prefer to accomplish this by means of a forming roll 65 which is movable from a l)position shown in Fig. 4 to that shown in Fig. 5. Any suitable means may be provided for accomplishing this movement, and in the construction shown, the forming roll 65 is journalled in a slidable roll supporting member 66. This slidable member is provided at opposite sides thereof with suitable grooves in which guide members or bars 61, secured to the side frames I5 and I6 of the machine, engage.

Any suitable means may be provided for moving the roll supporting member 66 along the guide ba'rs 61, and in the construction illustrated for this purpose, I have provided a cylinder 10 for this purpose. This cylinder contains a piston (not shown) having a piston rod 1| extending out ofthe cylinder and suitably secured to the roll` supporting member 66. This cylinder is provided with suitable supply pipes or conduits 12 and 13 for conducting uid under pressure to and from the upper and lower portions respectively of the cylinder 10. n

In the operation of my machine as-thus far described, the work X to be formed is first positioned in the machine in correct relation to the rolls 20 and 48, so that a portion of the Work extends rearwardly beyond these two rolls. The piston 5| is then actuated to cause the forming rolls 55 and 56 to move downwardly into engagement with the roll 20 and to move this roll downwardly so that the work X will be securely gripped between the rolls 28 and All. Fluid pressure is then admitted to the lower portion of the cylinder 18, thus raising the supporting member for the forming roll 65 from the position shown in Fig. 4 to that shown in Fig. 5. During this movement of the forming roll G5, it will be ynoted that the portion of the work extending rearwardly beyond the rolls 2,0 and 40 will bebent upwardly to conform with a portion of the pe-` riphery of the roll 28. When the parts are in this position, the rotation of the roll 20 in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 5 is started. The work will, consequently, 'befed or'advanced by the roll 20 and will follow along the periphery of the roll 28 because of the action'of the forming roll 65. The lleading end of the work will then encounter the forming roll 55. Because of the yielding pressure exerted downwardly upon the rolls 55 and 56 by the fluid operated piston 5| and because of the pivotal connection between the roll carrying bracket 58 and the crossv member 51, the. forming roll 55` will yield to permit the work to passbetween this roll and v then stopped and the work removed from the'roll 28. forms are to be rolled, the gauge 48 is very useful in determining the correct initial position of the If a number of similar cylinders or annular Work before the forming of thesame in the machine is started.

I preferably provide means whereby the various operations may be performed automatically and this may be done in any suitable or desired manner. The operation of the pistons in the cylinders 58 and 10 can be readily controlled'by This valve may be means of a control valve 80. of any suitable or usual construction, that shown, see particularly Fig. 3, including a suitable housing 8|' having a slide valve or plunger 82 mounted therein, the slide valve 82'being provided with i suitable passages for directing'uidv under pressure into either of the two ends of the cylinders 55 and 10. The cylinders maybe operated by any suitable fluid, and by way of example, the' valve `is shown as operating on compressed air, which may be conducted to the machine by means of a pipe or conduit 83 which terminates in a port in the housing 8|. 4The housing also has discharge ports or openings 84 and 85 therein through which compressed air'may be discharged to the atmosphere. The valve 88 has also 'openings connecting with tubes or ducts and 81,-the duct 86, as shown n Fig. 1 having a branch 8B leading to theupper end of the cylinder 50, and the pipe 13 leading to the lower end of the cylinder 10 is also connectedwith the pipe 86. The other duct 81 has a branch 98 leading to the lower end of the cylinder 50 and this ductor pipe 81 also connects with the pipe 12 leading to the upper end of the cylinder 18'. The-valve housing 8| preferably also hassmall openings in the opposite ends thereof which connect with ducts 94 and,v 95 to a stop Valve 96 and a start valve 91 respectively. The slide valve n member 82 is suitably held against rotating within its housing 8|- and is provided with ducts or passages', |00. IUI, and |82 extending transj versely through the slide valve member 82.' The valve isshown in Fig. 3 in the stop position, and consequently, air under pressure from the supply pipe 83 will pass through the passage |ll| in the valve to thepipe 81' and through branch pipes (i8 and 12 respectivelyto the lower and upper parts of the' kcylinders 58 and 10, so that the forming rollswill all lo'cciuzny the positions shown; in Figs. 1, 2 and 4. At the same time, the pipe 8G is connected through the passage 99 in the slide valve to the exhaust port 84, so that air is discharged to the atmosphere from the upper and lower portions respectively of the pistons 5R and It through the branch pipes 88 and 'I3 and main pipe 86.

When the start button 9T is pressed, a small bleeder valve (not shown) is actuated which discharges compressed air from the left side of the valve housing 8l through the pipe S5, thus causing the slide valve or plunger 82 to move to the left. When in this position, the air supply pipe 83, will be connected through the passage Ill@ in the slide valve 82 with the pipe 86 and its branch pipes 83 and 13, thus admitting air under pressure to the upperr and lower portions respectively of the pistons and 7|), and at the same time, the passage H32 in the slide valve 82 will connect the pipe 8I with the discharge port 85 of the valve housing, thus discharging air from the lower and upper portions respectively of the pistons 56y and 10.

The slide valve 82 is also provided with the usual small bleeder passages E04 and |05. The passage IM extends from the left end of the slide valve S2 to the valve passage IUI, and the bleeder 'passage |05 extends from the right end of the valve 82 to the valve passage |00.

From the foregoing description, it will be obvious that when air is discharged from they pipe 95 by having the operator actuate the bleeder valve or start button 9'1, then compressed air from the left side of the valve will be discharged so that the valve will move to the left end of the cylinder SI, and during this movement, the passage Ill! will move out of registration with the air supply pipe 83 while the passage |00 of the slide valve moves into position to receive air from the supply pipe 83, so that air under pressure will flow through the bleeder passage IDE to the right side of the valve 82, thus helping to move this slide valve to the left. The slide valve will remain in this position until the stop valve or button 96 is actuated, in which case, the reverse movement of the plunger or slide valve 82 takes place. This valve is substantially identical with the one shown in Fig. 8 of my Patent No. 2,132,136 of October 4, 1938, and the bleeder valves 95 and 91 which are not shown in detail in the accompanying drawings, may be similar in construction to the one shown in Fig. 9 of my above mentioned patent.

When the blceder valve 5,1 is actuated to move the slide valve 82 to the left in Figs. 1 and 3, the flow of compressed air to the upper portion oi the cylinder 59 and the discharge of air from the lower portion of this cylinder will take place much more rapidly than the corresponding :dow of air toand from the cylinder IQ because of the greater length of the branch pipes 'I2 and 'I3 as compared with the branch pipes 88 and 9U. Consequently, the piston 5I in the cylinder 5,0 will be actuated before the piston in the cylinder I0 is actuated. The more rapid action of the piston 5I is probably also brought abouty to some extent by the fact that the weight of the piston 5I, its piston rod 52 and the rolls 55` and 56 and other parts attached thereto helps to expedite the downward movement of these parts, while the air acting on the lower part of the cylinder 'Ill is required to lift the combined weight of the piston in this cylinder and the parts carried thereby. This results in the movement of the forming rolls and 56 into engagement with the roll 2i), and the corresponding movement ofV the roll 20 toward the roll 40 to clamp the work X, before the forming roll begins its upward movement. In the case of machines in which a diierence in the length of the branch pipes does not exist, the delayed action of the forming roll 65 can be readily e'ected by providing smaller pipes leading to the cylinder 1I), or by otherwise introducing a resistance into the flow of air to and from the cylinders '10, so that the Work X will be securely clamped between the rolls 20 and lil? by the action of the piston 5I before the forming roll E5 begins its movement.

When, as a result of the operation thus far described, the parts move into the positions shown in Fig, 5, resulting in the bending 0r forming of the portion of the work which extends rearwardly of the rolls 2D and 40, partly around the periphery of the roll 20, the further forming of the metal is then effected by starting the rotation of the roll 2U in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 5. The rotation of the roll 20 in timed relation to the movement of other parts of the machine may be eiected in any suitable manner, but is preferably also eiected automatically. In the construction shown for this purpose, I have provided on the machine an electrical switch III) which may be of anysuitable and desired construction, and which connects and disconnects the motor 2liv with any suitable source of electricity. The details of construction of the switch and its connection with the motor may be of conventional type and are not herein shown. This switch is actuated by means of a movable switch arm I I I, which is so positioned with relation to the support 66 of the forming roll 65 that as the forming roll reaches its upper position, the switch arm IUI is moved from its lower or open circuit position shown in Fig. 4 to its upper or closed circuit position shown in Fig, 5, in which position, electricity .is supplied to the motor to operate the same. By way of example, I have shown a bracket II2 on the supporting member 66 of the forming roll 55, and this bracket has an adjustable switch arm engaging member, such as a bolt or screw H4, the upper end of which is adapted to engage the switch arm III to move the same from its lower to its upper position. A lock nut .H5 serves to lock the adjustable switch arm engaging screw or bolt in the desired relation to the bracket II2. The switch IIB is so formed that the switch arm I I I normally occupies the lower position, this being accomplished either by gravity or a suitable spring (not shown), so that when the roll 65 descends after the operator has actuated the stop valve 36, the switch arm III will again move into its lower or open circuit position, thus stopping the motor 2:3.

From the foregoing, it will be clear that when the forming roll 65 has moved into its upper position, the switch IIIlA will be closed and the motor 24 will start, thus wrapping the work X about the roll 20 as has been described. As soon as the wrapping is completed, which requires-merely one revolution of the roll 2G, the operator actuates the stop button or valve 93, which causes the actuation of the rolls as has been described, including the downward movement of the forming roll S5. This downward movement permits the switch arm III to move downwardly into an open circuit position in which the motor 24 is stopped'. The rolls will then again occupy the positions shown in Figs.

IISl

1, 2 and 4, in which they are spaced from each other, and the finished work Y will be wrapped around the roll 20. When the rolls are in this position, the finished work Y can be readily removed or stripped from the roll 2U. Thismay be done manually or by automatic mechanism of any suitable or desired kind, or if desired, a foot operated mechanism such asis shown by Way of example in the drawings may be used. This mechanism includes a stripper linger or arm |2|l which normally extends into a position adjacent to but beyond that end of the roll 20 which is adjacent to the plate I6 of the housing of. the machine. This stripper finger or arm has a hub portion |2| whic'nvis arranged to slide on a bai` or rod |22 extending crosswise of the machine and having its ends secured on the frame plates and I6. A spring |23 may be employed ior normally holding this stripper iinger in its inoperative position to the right of the roll 20, in Figs. 2 and 10. The stripper nger is so positioned that when moved to the left in Figs. 2 and l0, it will engage an end of the finished work Y on the roll 2|] and upon further movement to the left will strip this work from. the roll 20. K

Any suitable means for moving the stripper finger along its supporting rod |22 may be employed, and in the particular construction illustrated, I have shown a foot operated lever |25, Figs. l and pivoted at |26 on the lower frame member Ii or other suitable part of the machine. A link |21 connects the foot lever |25 with a crank arm |28 secured on a rock shaft |29 pivoted on a bracket |30 mounted on the frame plate |6, and on a transverse frame member or plate |3I, which connects the frame plates I5 and I6 and also forms a support for the cylinder l0. A pair of bifurcated fingers |32 are also secured on the rock shaft |29 and the bifurcated ends of these fingers engage pins or projections |33 extending outwardly from opposite sides of the hub portion `|2| of the stripper finger or arm |20. Consequently, when the foot lever |25 is depressed, the lingers |32 will be svvungwith the rock shaft |29 to the left in Fig. l0, and' will move the stripper iinger to the left into-engagement with the work XJ'I the foot leverv is given a rapid'downward movement, the stripper finger |2ll will impart suicient movement to the work Y to discharge the same through the opening |9 in the frame plate l5, or if desired, the work Y after being partly pushed through the opening I3 may be removed from the machine by hand. .y

The machine described has the advantage that it is rapid and reliable in its operation and safe for an operator to use in that at no time is there any necessity for the operator to place his hands in danger of injury by moving parts of the machine. Furthermore, the work turned out by the machine is more perfect than has heretofore been produced. This is partly due to the fact that the portion of the work extending beyond the rolls 20 and 40 is bent by the roll 65 into a form which conforms very closely to the contour of the roll 20 and the work, consequently, has no flat end portions. 1n bending machines or wrapping rolls as heretofore constructed, in which all of the rolls rotated only about iixed axes, these flat ends on the work were unavoidable.

Another advantage of this machine is that the rolls are yieldingly held irl-their operative positions relatively to eachother. Consequently, if

fed into the machine, so that the opposite ends thereof will overlap, n o damage to the machine will result, since the rolls will move apart suiiiciently to compensate for the added thickness of the overlapping ends.

l claim as my invention:

l. In a 'metal forming machine, the combination of an idler roll,l a driven roll normally in spaced relation to said idler roll, means for .yieldingly holding said driven roll in spaced relation to said idler roll to permit work to be positioned between said rolls, and yielding means for moving said driven roll toward said idler roll against said iirst mentioned yielding means `for engaging Work placed between said rolls.

2. In a metal forming machine, the combination of an lidler roll, a 'driven roll normally in spaced relation to said idler roll, means for yieldingly holding said driven roll in spaced relation to said idlerr roll, and a forming roll movable yieldingly into work' engaging relation with said driven roll for moving said driven roll toward said idler roll into engagement with work placed between said driven and idler rolls and for forming work passing between said driven `rolll and said: forming roll.

3. In a metal forming machine, the combination of a roll .about which a piece of metal is to be wrapped, a pair of forming rolls arranged adjacent to said iirst mentioned roll and located on opposite sides of said first roll, all of said rolls being -normally spaced apart, and means for yieldingly urging one of said forming rolls against said first roll lforinoving said iirst roll toward the other forming roll into position to engage the work.-

4. Ina metal forming machine, the combination of a roll about which a piece of metal is to be wrapped,- ap-air of forming rolls arranged adjacent to said first mentioned roll and located on opposite sides of said iirst roll, all of said rolls being normally spaced apart, means for yieldingly moving said rolls vtoward each other for clamping a piece of metal between said first roll and one of said forming rolls, and means for rotating said first roll to advance said pieceV between said rolls.`

` 5. In a metal forming machine, the combination of a roll about which a piece of metal is to be wrapped, a pair of forming rolls arranged adjacent to said first mentioned roll and located" on opposite sides of said iirst roll, all of said 'rolls being normally spaced apart, means for yieldingly moving said rolls toward each other 1 gripping engagement with the Work while said rolls are non-rotating, with the leading end of the work extending beyond said rolls, a third roll movable at an angle to thework to form said leading end into engagement with the periphery of one of said'iirst mentioned rolls while the same are non-rotating, yand means for rotating one of said rolls after forming lsaid leading end,

to continue the forming of said Work about said one of said first mentioned rolls.

' 'L In a metal forming machine, the combination of a pair of rolls arranged to receive work between them, means for pressing said rolls into gripping engagement with the work While said rolls are non-rotating, with the leading end of the work extending beyond said rolls, a third roll movable at an angle to the work to form said leading end into engagement with the periphery of one of said first mentioned rolls While the same are non-rotating, means for rotating one of said rolls after forming said leading end, to continue the forming of said work about said one of said rst mentioned rolls, and anadditional roll cooperating with said one of said pair of rolls to form the work about the same.

8. In a metal forming machine, the combination of a pair of normally non-rotating rolls between which the work may be arranged with the leading end of the work extending beyond said rolls, a third roll arranged in a position to engage the leading end of the work, means for producing relative movement of said pair of rolls and said third rollto cause the work to be formed about one of the rolls of said pair and to be held in engagement therewith by said third roll while the same are non-rotating, and means for imparting rotation to one of said rolls to complete the forming of said work after said leading end of the work has been formed about said one roll.

9. In a metal forming machine, the combination of an idler roll, a driven roll normally in spaced relation to said idler roll to permit wort: to be positioned between said rolls with the leading end thereof extending beyond said rolls, means for moving said driven roll toward said idler roll While said rolls are non-rotating, to clamp the work between said rolls, a forming roll movable relatively to said driven and idler rolls in a direction to engage the work and form the same about a portion of said driven roll while said driven roll is non-rotating, and means for rotating said driven roll while said forming roll is in position to press said work against said driven roll, to complete the forming of the work.

10. In a metal forming machine, the combination of an idler roll, a driven roll normally in spaced relation to said idler roll to permit work to be positioned between said rolls with the leading end thereof extending beyond said rolls, a forming roll movable into engagement with said driven roll, yielding means for urging said forming roll toward said driven roll and for moving said driven roll into a position to clamp the work between said driven and idler rolls while said rolls are non-rotating, and a second forming roll movable relatively to said other rolls while the same are non-rotating, to engage the leading end of. the work and form the same about a portion of said driven roll, and means ior rotating said driven roll for completing the forming of the work about the same. Y n

l1. In a metal forming machine, the combination of an idler roll, a driven roll normally in spaced relation to said idler roll to permit Work to be positioned between said rolls with the'leading end thereof extending beyond said rolls, a pair informing rolls movable into engagement with said driven roll for moving said driven roll into clamping engagement with the work, a member for imparting said movement to said forming rolls and which is yieldingly urged to move said Vforming rolls toward and from said driven roll,

another forming roll for engaging the leading end lof the Work and movable for forming said end of the Work about the portion of said driven roll while said driven roll is non-rotating, and means for rotating said rolls to complete the forming of the work about said driven roll.

12. A metal forming machine in accordance with claim 11 and including bracket members on which said pair of forming rollsare mounted and which bracket members are pivotally mounted on-said movement imparting member.

13. In a metal forming machine, the combination of an idler roll rotatable about a xed axis, a driven roll arranged With its axis substantially parallel to the axis of said idler roll and movable toward and from said idler roll, means for yieldingly holding said driven roll in spaced relation to said idler roll to permit work to be inserted between said rolls with the leading end thereof extending beyondr said rolls, a forming roll arranged with its axis substantially parallel to the axes of said idler and driven rolls, fluid pressure operated means for moving said forming roll into engagement with said .driven roll, and for moving said driven roll against the action of said yielding means toward said idler roll for gripping the work between said driven and idler rolls, a third forming roll located adjacent to saidl leading end of the work, iiuid pressure operated means for moving said last mentioned forming roll into engagement with said leading end of said work for forming said leading end about a portion of said driven roll, and means for rotating said driven roll after forming of said leading end about the same to advance the work past said forming rolls to complete the forming thereof about said driven roll.

14. In a metal forming machine, the combination of an idler roll rotatable about a fixed axis, a driven roll arranged with its axis substantially parallel to the axis of said idler roll and movable toward and from said idler roll, means for yieldingly holding said driven roll in spaced relation to said idler roll to permit work to be inserted between said rolls with the leading end thereof extending beyond said rolls, a forming roll arranged with its axis substantially parallel to the axes of said idler and driven rolls, fluid pressure operated means for moving said forming roll into engagement with said driven roll, and for moving said driven roll against the action of said yielding means toward said idler roll for gripping the work between said driven and idler rolls, a third form-r ing roll locatedV adjacent to said leading end of the work, fluid pressure operated means for moving said last mentioned forming roll into engagement with said leading end of said work for forming said leading end about a portion of said driven roll, and means actuated by the movement of said last mentioned forming roll to effeet the rotation of said driven roll to complete the forming of the work about the same.

15. In a metal forming machine, th-e combination of an idler roll rotatable about a xed axis, a driven roll arranged with its axis substantially parallel to the axis of said idler roll and movable toward and from said idler roll, means for yieldingly holding said driven roll in spaced relation to said idler roll to permit Work to be inserted between said rolls with the leading end thereof extending beyond said rolls, a forming roll arranged with its axis'substantially parallel to the axes of said idler and driven rolls, uid pressure operated means for moving said forming roll into engagement with said drivenvroll, and for moving said driven roll against the action of said yielding means toward said idler roll for gripping the Work between said driven and idler rolls, a third forming roll located adjacent to said leading end of the work, fluid pressure operated means for moving said last mentioned kforming `roll into engagement with said leading end of said work for forming said leading end about a portion ofA said driven roll, means for rotating said .driven roll after forming of said leading end about the same to advance the work past said forming rolls to complete the forming thereof about saiddriven roll, means for actuating both of said fluid pressure operated means after completion of the Work to move said forming rolls out of vengagement With said driven roll, and a stripper including a part movable lengthwise adjacent to the surface of said .driven roll for removing the work end- Wise therefrom.

16. A method of wrapping a metal member about a roll, comprising clamping said metal member between said roll and another roll While the Ysame are non-rotating, with a portion of the metal member extending beyond said rolls, bendabout a roll, the steps of clamping the metal member between said roll and another roll While said rolls are non-rotating, With the leading end f of said metal member projecting beyond said rolls,

forming saidleading end of the metal member about a portion of'said first roll by pressing the same against said first roll by means of a forming roll, and then rotating said rolls to `complete the 18. In a metal forming machinather combinaj forming of said member about said' first roll, While 5 i said forming roll is in position to hold said metal member against said first roll.

tion of a roll about which a piece of metal is to be Wrapped, bearings in which said roll is jour- I nalled and which are located at one end only of said roll,H a pair of forming rolls arranged adjacent to said first mentioned roll and located on opposite sides of` said first roll, all of said rolls being normally spaced apart, means for yieldingply urging one vof said forming rollsagainst said first roll for moving said rst roll'towardthe other forming roll intoposition toengage the work, and means movablev endwise oi" said first roll When said rolls are spaced 'apart for'stripping the work from said rst roll lengthwise toward 'y the end thereof opposite to that Which'is jour` nalledA in bearings.

: WILLIAM C. "1'UCKIilR.l 

